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New Website Spotlights Eco-Tourism Opportunities

SNOW HILL – Tourists planning a visit to Worcester County can use a new website to get a preview of eco-tourism activities through short, locally produced, videos.

“It’s this really neat series of webisodes, two-minute webisodes, that tout the wilds of Worcester County,” said Lisa Challenger, director of tourism for Worcester County, at Tuesday’s County Commissioner meeting.

The Wilds of Worcester webisodes will be hosted on the website www.wildsofworcester.com, YouTube, and Maryland.com.

The Wilds of Worcester website went live this week in conjunction with Gov. Martin O’Malley’s visit to Capital for a Day Pocomoke City.

Four episodes have been filmed and edited so far, with footage completed for another two segments. Producers plan 16 to 20 Wilds of Worcester webisodes.

The promotional videos were produced in partnership with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Delmarva Low Impact Tourism Experiences (DLITE), and two private businesses, Unscene Productions and Maryland.com.

Tourism departments across the state are looking to the Worcester County videos as trailbreakers for new marketing campaigns for their own jurisdictions.

“They’re really designed to attract visitors, increase tourism,” said Ann Hillyer of Maryland.com.

“Any of the counties can do it,” said Challenger.

The videos feature Jim Rapp, executive director of DLITE, hosting, and offer information and even how-to’s on local activities like seining for water creatures the coastal bays, paddling the Pocomoke, beachcombing, and birding.

Producers will focus on simple things anyone can do, Rapp said.

“We want people to get out and explore all the cool stuff we have to do here,” Challenger said.

The website will include itineraries related to the webisodes and offer listings of hotels, restaurants, local parks, and water trails. A contest for the public to submit Worcester County photographs, essays and videos will bring an interactive component to the website.

“I think it’s a wonderful idea. I like what I saw,” said County Commissioner Judy Boggs.

“Show ‘em how to set a trot line,” suggested County Commissioner Louise Gulyas.